The Jamaica Exporters Association (JEA), has pledged to be a strong voice for the exporting community by advocating for regulatory and policy changes.

Addressing yesterday’s JEA Power Breakfast Speaker series, President of the JEA, Marjory Kennedy said over the next year, major focus will be on the establishment of a single window for exporters.

She says among the JEA “priorities over the next year is the establishment of a “single window” for exporters that will reduce the time and cost of registration and export processes”.

Kennedy has also called on exporters to take advantage of and explore the “tremendous opportunities in other markets”.

According to Kennedy, exports to Jamaica’s Top 5 Trading Partners, including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Netherlands and Iceland, make up 75% of all exports.

However, she says there are tremendous opportunities in other markets which must be strategically explored. “The world’s fastest growing region over the next 15 years is likely to be Central Asia. Its share of the global economy is forecast to have more than tripled since the start of the new millennium, from 2.8% in 2000 to 9.9% in 2030. We must therefore proactively look for greater opportunities in this region. The idea is to make it happen for ourselves. We have to take an aggressive approach at trying to penetrate various markets offering a cadre of non-traditional goods and services”.

Kennedy says to this end, the association has already begun to forge new and cement existing strategic partnerships.

For example, the JEA President says the association intends to formalize its partnership with the Business Basin this year.

She says this will provide help to new and potential exporters by assisting them to develop globally competitive products, to target potential export markets, and to develop successful export marketing and distribution strategies.

“The Business Basin works hand in hand with companies to fine-tune their product for the global market; to target the most promising export markets; and to identify the right fit for importers, distributors and retail partners for the companies”, Kennedy says “by collaborating with the Business Basin, the JEA will be able to provide value added services to our membership, especially the newer exporters”. BM